Paul and Sue Bergstrom

All Thumbs

This petite instrument carries with it thousands of years of African musical tradition. Called a kalimba, mbira, mbila, or marímbula depending on the region in which it's played, the first version of this handheld thumb piano originated in Africa over 3,000 years ago! Lightweight and portable, the thumb piano was the chosen instrument of traveling troubadours, who would retell the history of their tribe in song.

Whether you use it to strike up your own story or to teach little ones about music, Paul and Sue Bergstrom's handcrafted thumb piano is the ideal instrument to carry a tune. Atop a beautiful, cedar plank are 8 numbered tines that correspond with traditional notes on the diatonic scale. The tines, or keys, are made of tempered spring steel that is hand-cut and rounded. To play, simply cradle the instrument in your hands and pluck the tines with your thumbs. This modern version is also amp-compatible, so it's ready for band play-alongs and to satisfy all your sampling needs! Handmade in Blairsville, Georgia.

Includes easy-to-follow songbook filled with traditional melodies like "You are my sunshine," "Kumbaya," and "Happy Birthday."

Paul and Sue Bergstrom

location

Georgia

Nothing brings Paul and Sue Bergstrom more joy than sharing their love of music. The couple, who live in the mountains of north Georgia, craft Kalimbas—a type of thumb piano that originated in Africa—out of gourds and wood. When Paul creates an instrument, he works to "feel" the sound. "Only after my wife has installed the key set and tuned it do I get to hear the end result of my work," he says.

Aesthetic beauty is just as important, even when it can't be seen. A few years ago, Paul recalls a show where a young blind girl chose her own Kalimba. When she found her match, a cannonball gourd, she knew instantly. "She said, 'It's beautiful, I can feel it,'" shares Paul. "In that moment, my wife and I realized that what we were doing was very right."

Acoustic and Electric versions function the same way - electric will simply be louder if connected to an amplifier Please note, the Electric Thumb Piano does not come with an amp cord. Connection is a standard .25" jack.

Item ID

23519

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within 8 days, arriving no later than the 9th business day after the order was placed.

My boyfriend writes, records, and mixes his own music. I wanted to gift him something that would add a unique sound to some of his songs. I went with he electric version so...Read complete review

My boyfriend writes, records, and mixes his own music. I wanted to gift him something that would add a unique sound to some of his songs. I went with he electric version so he could easily connect it up for recording. He loves it! He also loves to do little mini acoustic jam outs while we are burning time.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

Poor Packaging

This is a musical instrument, not a gift card.It was not boxed or bubblewrapped; it was sealed in a flimsy flat corrugated paper wrapping where it could be crushed by any other...Read complete review

This is a musical instrument, not a gift card.It was not boxed or bubblewrapped; it was sealed in a flimsy flat corrugated paper wrapping where it could be crushed by any other packages being delivered.I believe the craftsperson did their part to tune it and that it was jarred in transit.I called the maker to seek tuning information which they were helpful with, however, they also said that if I was unable to re-tune it that they would do it free of charge as long as I picked up shipping charges both ways, i. e. 3 x shipping!I'm glad I got it back in tune but suggested the maker have a conversation with Uncommon Goods on the proper way to ship musical instruments.

Easy to hold and use. We are Hams, so I thought this would help with getting a rhythm to Morse Code and using a Key to increase speed. Don't know if it has because we're just having so much fun playing it as it is.

Electric thumb piano was a hit! From the minute he opened the package, he knew right away what it was, and started experimenting with sounds and riffs. At first, the tones were very soft, until he put it on the table, which seemed to amplify the sounds. Because there was a room full of people, he didn't plug it in, but he did walk around with it, strumming.

I play several instruments and I sing. This thumb piano is great. It's beautiful with or without the amp. I would say a drawback is you can't play it that well if you have nice fingernails. Males probably don't havery as much of an issue, but when I tried it out the first time (I have nice nails right now) it was a bit sloppy.

This is the coolest little music device and it is made incredibly well. The cedar smell is amazing. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to play the thumb piano since I can't really read notes and am not musically gifted. A song booklet is included and is written according to the numbers on the thumb piano, not musical notes, so it is very easy to learn. I'm totally obsessed with this little instrument. If you enjoy music and have always wanted to "create your own", give this a try. You'll be glad you did!

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